By The Editor
Since earliest times fish have been favourite dish of people who lived along sea coast or on river banks and they had employed various methods in catching them. There are different kinds of fish but the two broad categories are saltwater fish and freshwater fish. First category as the name implies are abundant in seas and oceans and methods of catching them are by trawlers and ships whereas second category abounds in flowing rivers and streams. Due to technical developments the world fish catch has increased tremendously during last few decades threatening survival of fish in future. Countries became worried at such possibility and hence agreed to introduce legislative measures for effective control. Scientists and researchers have found ways and means for conservation and preservation and at the same time devised steps for increased production to meet human needs for protein-source. Governments and private enterprises are also continuously endeavouring to increase supply of meat supplement and to improve farmers’ income.
The Blue Revolution Scheme for Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries was launched in 2015-16 with central outlay of Rs 3,000 crore for five years. In order to improve infrastracture Rs 7,522 crore was invested in infrastracture development fund for fisheries and aquaculture in 2018-19. Consistent efforts made by government to introduce reforms and improvement in this sector have yielded appreciable results. Consequently fisheries sector recorded an impressive average growth of 10.87 percent as against the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth-rate of 7 per cent during the same period. In order to meet full potential Government of India has conceived Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) the Blue Revolution scheme to ensure socio-economic welfare of fisheries, fish farmers and other stakeholders and to make fisheries sector economically viable and robust. PMSSY has set a goal of creating new jobs for 55lakh people by 2025.
Fish consumption is becoming popular in Meghalaya supply for which depends much on import from outside. State Aquaculture Mission was launched in 2012 to not only augment fish production in the state but to achieve target of making Meghalaya self-sufficient within five years. Five years have come and gone but sadly the dream of achievement is still far away. On April 24 Fisheries Minister Alexander Laloo Hek admitted that Meghalaya is still much deficit in fish production depending to the tune of 80 per cent of fish coming from outside. Hek stated that the mission unfortunately is a failure and so desires to change the concept from fish sanctuary into tourism potential in order to generate revenues also. He elaborated by saying that the new model would be BOT (Build, Operate and Transfer) system where government would build sanctuaries, operate and then transfer them later to community. Hopefully with these new approaches the scheme will be a success in future.